Planning Studio Students Engage with Eastern NC Communities

Published Dec 18, 2023 by
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The BS Community and Regional Planning degree requires two capstone projects. Seniors must successfully complete them in a small group studio (PLAN4096) in the fall semester and an individual practicum (PLAN4099) in the spring semester. Students work closely with their community clients throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, their works are presented/evaluated by the clients, the planning faculty, and the members of the Planning Alumni Board.

Three studio teams of PLAN4096 (instructor: Prof. Merrill Flood, Planner-in-Residence) presented their projects on December 12, 2023.

Project 1

Washington Park, NC is a community adjacent to Washington, NC. The project team assisted in developing a landscape plan for the Park area adjacent to the Pamlico River for the Community Park.

  • Team Members: Caroline Van Staaldium, John Christopher James, and William Lowery (Team Lead)
  • Client: Belinda Colwell (Commissioner, Washington Park, NC)

Project 2

With the request by the City of Greenville’s Neighborhood and Business Services, the student group created a neighborhood/community engagement playbook that could guide city staff through appropriate, coordinated, and best practices for community engagement, including a model for neighborhood engagement that will replace or updates the existing neighborhood focused effort used by the Neighborhood Advisory Board.

  • Team Members: Bella Sardina, Edward Johnathan Alberg, and Cameron Brown (Team Lead)
  • Client: Tiana Berryman (Director, Neighborhood and Business Services), Renee Skeen (Program Manager), Tony Parker (Neighborhood Liaison)

Project 3

The student group completed a research project for the City of Greenville’s Neighborhood and Business Services to determine ways to support and retain Downtown Businessesin anticipation of implications (both positive and negative) resulting from the development of a hotel in the downtown area.

  • Team Members: Mary Archibald (Team Lead),  Jordan Kearney, Jacob Noah Mills
  • Client: Tiana Berryman (Director, Neighborhood and Business Services), Johnathan Bryant (Business Liaison, Neighborhood and Business Services), Tawanda Cage (Administrative Assistant)